EBC Brake Pads? what do you think?

Had green stuff pads and EBC discs. Disks cracked and warped within one day of track use. Due to volvo running costs they had to stay on until finances allowed. I've just removed them last week and the brake pad material had disintigrated.

I won't be fitting them again....

[don kalmar union]

I am stocking the Redstuff Ceramic for the new shape V70 and S60 and the DS2500 from Ferodo. At £99 and £132 including VAT.

The DS2500 and previously mentioned Mintex product are really the definitive fast road, track day pads, allthough the DS2500 is way overpriced in that pad form due to the very low volumes produced.

Unfortunately, EBC products suffer from a Max Power image that tends to mask the good results from choosing exactly the right product from their range. Their new Red Stuff Ceramic material suits heavier, more powerfull cars such as the T5 (old and new): the Green Stuff material is really not a good choise for any of these cars.

The poor opinions of EBC products are usually based on experience with their Green Stuff pads on the older 850 and S/V/C70's where the front disc sizes, 280 or 302mm were really both too small for enterprising driving on or off a track.

No matter what combination of standard size disc or pad on these earlier cars you will get overheating with spirited driving which will, in all but short bursts, cause any disc to warp and crack. You can try and get some air into the centre of the discs with ducting, but the only answer is to fit much larger and costly discs and callipers such as those from AP.

With discs, you again have the image masking some good products such as those from Black Diamond which are made from good quality material. A fair part of the very large market attractive to such Companies as BD and EBC is approached through such as Max Power, Fast Car etc., where cosmetic appearance is a prime reason for buying.

Regards, Don.Norchi.

www.kalmar-union.com

UK distributor of MTE Engineered Software.

[blues60]

On previous cars I have used Mintex 1144's and Black Diamond part drilled discs and also Mintex 1144's with Black Diamond curve grooved (14 grooves I think) discs. Both offered a marked improvement in bite and staved off the dreaded fade noticably longer.
I ended up warping the part drilled discs with EBC Greenstuff pads which were fitted to my 200sx which backs up Don's point about the Greenstuff pads not suiting heavier/larger cars.
I'd not hesitate to recommend Black Diamond discs. Although they have a boyracer image they are actually quality discs quite reasonably priced.
One good way to improve the efficiency of the brakes is to uprate the fluid or at least ensure yours is in good condition. It's surpising what a difference it makes. Also steel braided brake hoses help a lot with pedal feel. I'm not sure what are available for Volvo's though.